Report: Oilers looking at “sweetening the pot” on Milan Lucic trade

More smoke rose from the kindling that is the Milan Lucic trade rumours after Frank Seravalli jumped on Lowetide’s radio show to talk a little Oilers. According to the insider, the Edmonton Oilers are not only shopping the forward but could also be willing to add to a deal that would send Milan Lucic out of town.

Over the past couple of days, Milan Lucic’s name has been flying around the Internet in trade rumours like a turd in a tornado. Okay, so they’re not necessarily trade rumours just yet, but there’s definitely something going with Sergeant Swagger on the leaving Edmonton front. On Wednesday, Gregor mentioned on his show that he had heard Lucic would be willing to wave his no-move clause provided that the landing spot worked out for him and his family. With a no-move clause, Lucic gets to pick where he wants to go and that might mean a change of address is coming.

Now, does such a location that he loves and that loves him back even exist? I’m not sure, but the wheels seem to be in motion here. On top of Gregor’s heater, TSN threw Lucic up on their trade board which added another layer to the dip. So when Frank Seravalli hit the airwaves with Lowetide, you knew that LT was going to ask him about the rumours and what in the double heck is going on here:

“My understanding, and the reason that Milan Lucic is on our trade list, is because (the Oilers) are trying and talking to teams about potentially taking another contract back even if that means sweetening the pot with a pick or some other roster player in order to make it happen.”

Sweeten the pot, huh? What does that mean exactly? Massage? Nudes from MacT? Edible arrangement? Pick? Prospect? Thumb drive full of Bitcoin? WHAT IS IT!? *clears throat* Shed some light please, sir. I need to know how likely this thing is of going through.

“(The Oilers) are pushing, or are at least doing their due diligence and working to try and move on from Milan Lucic if they can.”

Whoa, mama. The fox is in the henhouse and it is not a drill. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times. This thing could actually happen, huh? But wait, let’s calm ourselves down here for a minute. Whether you want this deal to happen or not, nothing has happened apart from some chatter so there’s no reason to get worked up. Pull yourself together, Baggy. Wooooosah. I’m sorry. Go on, Frank.

“I just don’t know that it’s going to happen with that much term left. It’s going to be a really tough one to do.”

Wait what? I don’t get it. What would be so hard about trading a guy that underperformed with an eternity left on his monster contract that also has a no-move clause attached to it? Oh right. All of that. I understand. So maybe this thing isn’t a lock to get done then, huh?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

I have to admit, all of this Lucic trade stuff is pretty weird to watch. Less than two years after signing a mammoth contract with the accompanying no-move clause, we’re already talking about trading Milan Lucic. I don’t think it’s weird because the guy could possibly get traded, but rather because Peter Chiarelli is still the GM and would be the one doing it. Looch and Swag Daddy go back to their Boston Cup days and it seems crazy that Chiarelli would move on from the veteran so quickly after signing him to the long-term deal that was supposed to bring some swagger back to Oil Country.

To me, and this is just my opinion, I believe that Lucic asked for a trade and I’d also guess that Chiarelli has the list of teams that he’d waive to go to. Why else would these rumours start coming out? It’s either that he asked for a trade or that the other guys on the team hated him, because I can’t see it being Chiarelli that’s quitting on Lucic this early. Not with their history. Not after one bad season without giving him a chance to rebound. After doing some snooping, to me, it seems more likely that the big man is looking for greener pastures, be it for opportunity or otherwise. I think the fact that the Oilers are trying to move him has more to do with Chiarelli doing Lucic a solid than it is about believing that he can bounce back or not. Again, I have nothing to base that on other than what I’ve heard and what I’ve read.

But you know, sometimes things just don’t work out the way you thought they would. Sometimes you buy a pair of jeans that feel great for the first year you have them but then life moves forward, and all of a sudden those jeans fall out of fashion, ya dig? Whether you’re into the idea of trading Lucic or not, it will interesting to see what happens with his name circling the hockey world as a trade option, especially as we get closer towards the NHL Draft. Though, as both Gregor and Seravalli said, Milan Lucic ultimately controls what happens here as he has the kill card for any deal, if there is even a deal out there to kill. Considering the Oilers are shopping him and the relationship they formed from their time in Boston, I’d guess that Peter Chiarelli already knows his options.

trust me when i say i fully realize edmonton will be better when it all shakes out – i know this because i have heard that right hear for 12 years!
and by the way, you say “whackoff” like it is an insult… why would you use any type of sexual experiences as a pejorative?

Your team has been just about as bad, and the Flames have made the playoffs more and have less to show for it, and haven’t won as many series as the Oilers. The Flames have been the less successful franchise by a long shot.

I’m not trading Lucic as a salary dump and adding real assets. I would trade him and even retain something like $1.5 mill, but no way do I add a sweetener to do it. If he sucks again this year, then we can trade him and add a sweetener. And there will be one year less on his contract.

my trolling here bothers you, but really, it is just a mild good-natured ribbing, nothing for you to get so upset about – have a laugh! i think why you so overreact to my lighthearted ribbing is because you have been kicked off of FN, and cant see the difference between having a bit of back and forth fun and becoming ignorant and making personal attacks.
my “trolling” here is so mild and benign that most of the time it isn’t even contrary. don’t take it all so seriously

Why would we go outta our way to sweeten the pot for looch? Why take on another crap contract or risk giving up a prospect that we already lack desperately? If looch wants out fine, but don’t go outta your way to ship him out or give away a future decent player! The smells like pronger crap alllll over again…

Let’s say a guy bought a Lucic jersey knowing it would be good for at least 6 years, and now it will be worthless. Can I also get a trade clause on said jersey even though at one time it was untradeable?